Two Dead in Tragic Shooting Involving Police Officer's Son

A heartbreaking incident unfolded on Monday, February 10, 2025, when two children, aged 9 and 2, were found dead in a parked van at the Hollywood Casino parking garage in downtown Detroit, apparently from exposure to freezing temperatures. The children's mother had previously reached out to the city's homeless response team multiple times for assistance but reported no satisfactory resolution, according to Mayor Mike Duggan.
The family had been living in the van after being evicted from their apartment and had been trying to secure shelter. Captain Nathan Duda of the Detroit Police Department indicated the mother parked the van around 1 a.m. before the vehicle ceased functioning. Tragically, the mother discovered her oldest child unresponsive shortly after noon, and a family friend attempted to assist. Both children were later pronounced dead, with the Wayne County Medical Examiner's Office expected to confirm the cause of death.
Mayor Duggan called for an investigation into the city's homelessness support systems, citing a "broken" referral model, indicating that the tragedy highlights a need for immediate action to prevent similar occurrences in the future.